Part 4 (1/2)
”No, we've had the 'lark,' and must now be physicked.”
When morning school was over the doctor took Leslie into his study, and seating himself, laid one hand upon his shoulder, and in a kind but grave voice said, ”Ross, I am sorry, more so than I can express, that you should have been guilty of so thoughtless an action as that of last night; what do you think your father will say? If you do not overcome this weakness of yours it will lead you into many more troubles. You must keep watch and guard upon yourself. When tempted you must ask yourself whether the action is right, and what are likely to be its results. He that over-cometh himself, is stronger than a man who taketh a walled city.”
When Leslie left the doctor's study it was with the fall determination never to indulge in another ”lark.”
CHAPTER IV.
THE LINCHPIN.
”Rain, rain, rain, I think we are going to have a second deluge,” said Arthur Hall, looking disconsolately out of one of the school-room windows.
”Yes, I think so, too,” said Fred Moore, joining him.
”This makes the second week it has poured down, with not a single bright day all the time.”
”It would not be a bad plan if it only rained at night, and not during the day, for play and work could go on quite nicely then,” remarked Lynch, who was copying out his twenty lines.
”It is rather fortunate for you and Ross, that all this rain has come during your punishment month.”
”Yes,” chimed in Leslie, ”with the exception of the daily task of twenty lines, our last fortnight has not been much of a punishment, for I a.s.sure you I have had no desire to go out.”
”Always your fortune,” said Hall, who was manifestly in an ill humour; ”now, if I had been punished instead of you, the weather would have been a marvel of fineness, sunny all day and starry all night.”
”Well, don't get cross, Hall, the holidays will soon be here; another ten days, and good-bye books, slates, and masters.”
”Yes, there is some consolation in that,” said Hall; ”but you two, Ross and Lynch, just step here and see how it comes down.”
”One moment,” said Lynch, ”I am finis.h.i.+ng my last line; there, the doctor ought to give me three good marks, and set me up as an example of clever penmans.h.i.+p before the whole school.”
”How quick you write, Johnnie,” said Leslie, looking up from his task, as his friend waved his paper round his head, ”here I have six more lines to copy.”
”Courage, my dear fellow, courage; remember this is our last day, our punishment is now ended.”
”Yes, I am happy to say.”
”I already feel a new man,” said Lynch, stretching himself; ”no longer a slave, bound hand and foot in fetters, I am free as the winds.”
”True,” said Leslie, a minute after laying down his pen, ”my punishment is over, I _am_ happy.”
”Yes, we have taken all our physic, and are now free from the doctor's rule. When will you have another lark, Leslie?”
”Never again,” said Leslie, folding up his paper.
How confidently he spoke.
”Now, then, what is there to be seen,” exclaimed Lynch, approaching the group at the window.
”Why, come and inform us what prospect we have of playing our game of cricket to-morrow,” said Hall.